Effect of Music Therapy on Dressing Pain in Intensive Care Patients With Pressure Injury.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of music therapy on dressing pain in unconscious intensive care patients with pressure injuries (PIs).

Methods: A one-group quasi-experimental study was conducted with 39 patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Intubated, hemodynamically stable patients with Stage 2 to 4 PI and Glasgow Coma Score of 8 or higher were included. All patients underwent 2 wound dressing applications, one with music therapy and the other using the conventional method. The patients' behavioral pain scores and vital signs were measured before, during, and after each dressing.

Results: The patients had a mean age of 73.23 ± 1.44 years, and 56% were females. Patients who underwent wound dressing with the conventional method had higher diastolic blood pressure ( P = .038) and mean arterial blood pressure ( P = .034) after dressing when compared with patients who received music therapy. There was no statistically significant difference in other vital signs ( P >.05). Music therapy resulted in significantly lower behavioral pain scores at all time points ( P <.01).

Conclusions: Music therapy is a low-cost, easy, and effective method to reduce dressing pain in unconscious patients. The use of music therapy during dressing can contribute to both the physical and mental comfort of patients. Personal preferences should be taken into consideration in music therapy interventions. Further studies on the utility of this method are needed.